Venetian blind slat



Dec. 19, 1950 J. w. HOLLAND VENETIAN BLIND SLAT Filed June 11, 1945.INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Rv A WW N 7 0 Patented Dec. 19, 1 950 UNITED PATENTerr-ice;

'lfhis application relates to Venetian blinds and;

method of mam-marine he same. "I lie" particular object of thisinvention is to produce'a slat for a Venetian blind which is translucentand thus will transmit a predetermined'ainount of illumination througha'window p ning V Another object of thisinvention is to provide a ted id. mai fe t e etia bl d slats h e nh twi t th la re ed: nd 'e su tingpredl ttfi of h sh. u i y- Stil e obieti is i? vide bil elat i dm od m kher in. th 1%. ma e e 15 e. id and. a other 9hr on the ether e reb nncing ta eluei decorar tive scheirlesf in particularto'ah improved slatthereforandla "Still another object is to provide a Venetian blind slatso formed that thereare no rough edges thereon to wear theadjustingtapes and cords of the. blind structure. 4'

Still another object is to provide a two-color Venetian blind slat whichis so constructed that the color on either side is predominant from thatside throughout the adjustmentof the blind from a closed to a horizontalposition. 4

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent uponreference to the followigg q li eiiqn. llq, .eqq m e v rawin s aw ch gur1s a ir ntv ei la, V an. b nd a i lat qestm ieq e qerqige to m levee.-tion;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on theline 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view over a portion of a blind slat showingmore exactly the proportions thereof;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the blind slat in the process ofbeing assembled; and

Figure 5 is a view illustrating how the assembled blind is sealed alongthe edges thereof.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a window opening at H] Withinwhich is suspended a Venetian blind generally indicated at l2 whichcomprises the slats [4, the adjusting tapes I6 and the pull cords I8.The mechanism for tilting the slats and for raising and lowering theblind may consist of any well-known devices and forms no part of thepresent invention.

The arrangement of the slats relative to their supporting tapes andcords is more particularly shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 it will be obsv d that. t e slats H are seemed 9a th 2 strips :29 which are secured-ateither end-'tathe tilting tapes I 6, it beingunderstood-that the tapesandstrips arepreferablyfabric-material; slats iii and; the strip 253 areaperturedasat 22 and 2 i f or receiving the lifting and lowering cord;

l8. Any predetermined spacing may be -given the slats andtheyare showninFigure-2 ers being spaced soassomewhat-to overlap when the blind is inits closed position. This represents the maie imum spacing of-theslatsandtheymaybeplaeed closer'together if so desired;

The construction of the slat is more. particu-v larly shown in Figures3, land 5 whereinit wilb be seen to comprise apair (at-strips Swami-= 32which are similarly shapedto an L configuration with a slightlyconveX-back-pertion. Beoause ot their similar shapes the-slathalves areadapted for being assembled as indicatedin-Figur-e-4 intoa unitary,uniformly shaped-structure? After the assembling together tthestripsjltand -32-, the edge of the slat along the line where the halves join issealed to prevent dirt, moisture or other foreign matter from gainingingress to;

the space between the two strips.

This sealing, which is indicated at- -M- in-Figgure- 5, may comprise anyprocess adapted forthe-particular material being employed in theconstruction of the saidslat. For example, if the slat halves are madefrom a plastic material which is;

soluble in-solvents, the seal may be effected moisteningthe contiguouscorner-sot the two strips with a suitable solvent and thereafter per--mitting the assembled slat to-dry. In other-cases the slat material maybe softened by heat in order to efiect a welding of the adjacentsurfaces of the two strips.

While the use of a plastic material is preferred for the strips 30 and32, it will be understood that this invention also contemplates the useof glass and other materials which could be suitably formed to theconfiguration of the strips and thereafter assembled in sealedrelationshi into the finished blind slat.

Referring again to Figure 2, an advantage of a blind slat constructedaccording to this invention will become apparent upon reference to therounded ends 36 of the slats which lie in engagement with the tapes I6.This rounded edge, being perfectly smooth, inhibits wearing of the tapesas the blind is adjusted so that the blind retains its appearance andutility over a long period of use.

In the manufacture of the strips 30 and 32, I prefer that they be moldedby any suitable process molding 3 of plastics, but it will be understoodthat other methods, such as by extrusion, rolling or casting ofmaterials in order to produce a strip of the desired configuration arewithin the scope of my invention.

A still further advantage to be gained from constructing the blind slatin halves according to this invention is that each half may be made froma material which is colored to blend with its surroundings. For example,several blinds could be placed at various windows in a house and allhave the same color on the outside thereby to produce a uniform exteriorappearance, while the insides of the blinds could be colored to matchthe particular decorative scheme of the room in which they were hung.Thus, without detracting from the exterior appearance of the house,blinds could be selected from a wide range of colors for internaldecorative purposes.

While I prefer that blind slats constructed according to my invention betranslucent in order to transmit light to the interior of the room, itwill be understood that certain elements of this invention are notlimited to the use of translucent strips. For example, the advantage ofmolding the slat in halves and thereafter assembling it in order toobtain the smooth rounded ends 36 obtains equally well whether thestrips are translucent or opaque.

The convex side surfaces of the assembled slat is of advantage inconnection with the transmission of light inasmuch as it prevents brightspots or strips of light from appearing on the interior surface of theblind. Rather, the light is emitted across the entire surface of eachslat. The particular amount of light transmitted may be regulated bycontrolling the translucency of one or both of the strips 30, 32.

It will be understood that various modifications and arrangements instructure could be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention and, accordingly, I desire to comprehend such modificationsand substitutions of equivalents as may be considered to come within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a slat for Venetian blinds ofsymmetrical cross section constructed of two identical strips each ofwhich consists of a body section having a convexly curved tip, said tipsbeing joined to the body through only a portion of its cross sectionalbase width and having its unattached end terminating in a surfaceforming an internal angle with said body section, said body sectionterminating at the end opposite the curved tip in a surface forming anangle supplemental to that formed between the tip and body, the twostrips being laid together with their complementary surfaces in contactand sealed along their contiguous edges.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a slat for Venetian blinds and thelike having a relatively elongated configuration in cross section, withthe end portions of said sections rounded and the side portions thereofconvex, said slat comprising an identical pair of shaped strips, each ofwhich consists of a body section having a semicircular tip, said tipbeing joined to the body through only a radius length of its base widthand having its unattached end terminating in a surface forming aninternal angle with said body section, said body section terminating atthe end opposite the rounded tip in a surface formin an anglesupplemental to that formed between the tip and body, the two stripsbeing laid together with their complementary surfaces in engagement andthe assembled slats being sealed completely along the edges to form aunitary structure.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a slat for Venetian blinds ofsymmetrical cross section constructed of two translucent strips ofidentical cross sectional configuration each strip being of difierentcolor and each of which consists of a body section having a convexlycurved tip, said tips being joined to the body through only a portion ofits cross sectional base width and having its unattached end terminatinin a surface forming an internal angle with said body section, said bodysection terminating at the end opposite the curved tip in a surfaceforming an angle supplemental to that formed between the tip and body,the two strips being laid together with their complementary surfaces incontact and sealed along their contiguous edges.

JOHN WARD HOLLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,068,977 Dodge Jan. 26, 19372,121,217 Ellis June 21, 1938 2,142,629 Clark Jan. 3, 1939 2,378,591Solis June 19, 1945

